HB 172 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Food Safety Amendments

HB 172 amends Utah's food safety laws to extend the renewal period for certified food safety managers from three to five years. It updates exemptions for temporary food events (like school functions, church meals, and nonprofit fundraisers) and clarifies that food service businesses donating food to qualifying nonprofits cannot be charged extra fees or required for additional training. The bill also defines key terms and makes technical adjustments to existing code sections. These changes directly affect food service businesses, managers, and nonprofit organizations hosting food-related events in Utah.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed Mar 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 17, 2026
MODERATE
This bill updates Utah's food safety laws by extending the certification renewal period for food safety managers from three to five years and clarifying exemptions for charitable and nonprofit fundraising events. The changes aim to reduce administrative burdens on businesses while ensuring public health standards are met through updated rules and risk assessments.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of exemptions for food service establishments, specifically clarifying rules for charitable organizations and nonprofit fundraising events, and extends the certification cycle for food safety managers.
REQUIREMENT

Extended the food safety manager certification renewal period from three years to five years.

Added a new exemption category for establishments in the lowest risk or permitted food establishment category determined by a risk assessment.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the requirements for charitable organization food events to clarify that they must provide food free of charge to a disadvantaged group.

TECHNICAL

Adjusted cross-references within the statute to align with the new five-year renewal cycle.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2026 · House Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

250
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 29
Feb 20, 2026
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
N Forward1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican22
18 Yea 4
81% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
42
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Mar 17, 2026
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Business and Labor Committee]
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Business and Labor Committee]
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Business and Labor Committee]
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Feb 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
House/ to standing committee [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors